DIEGO COSTA’S future at Chelsea was thrown into major doubt as he was dropped for todays game at Leicester amid a blazing row with manager Antonio Conte - after an astonishing £576,000 a week offer from China that would make him the best paid player in the world.

The fiery striker has not travelled with the squad for the crucial Premier League clash at Leicester today - and had trained alone for the past three days after complaining of a back problem.

The Spain striker this week is understood to have been the latest Premier League star to have received a massive offer to move to Chinese football - in his case a £30 million a year offer from Super League club Tianjin Quanjian, who are willing to pay Chelsea £80m for the striker.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is though understood to be adamant that he does not want to sell Costa, Chelsea’s top scorer with 14 goals this season.

Costa, Chelsea sources have indicated, complained of a lower back problem earlier this week, while the club’s medical staff were not convinced, and Antonio Conte got involved in the row.

Now the striker has been left out of the squad for a critical league game against the reigning Premier League champions, which Chelsea will hope to win to recover from seeing their 13 game winning run ended at Tottenham last week.

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Diego Costa has had a bust-up with Chelsea boss Antonio Conte

Chelsea had been planning to hand Costa, in outstanding form this season, a new deal, but that could be thrown into doubt by these latest developments.

Chelsea believe the Chinese offer has sparked Costa’s latest outburst but whatever the cause it is a major headache for Conte as he tries to keep his team’s campaign on the rails.

The Chelsea manager could turn to Belgian starlet Michy Batshuayi to lead his attack today, but the £33m man has not convinced in his few appearances so far, and Eden Hazard to play up front.

Conte though up until now this season has had a good relationship with Costa, who fell out with previous manager Jose Mourinho last year. The striker is notoriously volatile though, and the club hope that this latest row will blow over.

If it does not though, Chelsea will need to replace Costa in the next fortnight before the January transfer window closes. Costa has been keen on Swansea striker Fernando Llorente, but only previously as a back up to his main man.

Diego Costa has reportedly been dropped for Chelsea's clash with Leicester after a bust-up with manager Antonio Conte

The Chelsea manager could turn to Belgian starlet Michy Batshuayi to lead his attack today, but the £33m man has not convinced in his few appearances so far, and the Italian opt to play Eden Hazard up front.

Conte though up until now this season has had a good relationship with Costa, who fell out with previous manager Jose Mourinho last year. The striker is notoriously volatile though, and the club hope that this latest row will blow over.

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Roman Abramovich doesn't want to sell their star striker

If Costa, previously a target for his former club Atletico Madrid at the end of last season but persuaded to stay by Conte, is intent on forcing his way out of the club, Chelsea will have to spend the huge cash amount they will receive, quickly.

Conte had warned about the “threat” posed by the financial power of Chinese clubs after midfielder Oscar left Chelsea for Shanghai SIPG just before Christmas and former Liverpool and Newcastle manager Graeme Souness agrees with him.

Speaking on Sky Sports Souness said: “If your head has been turned... you’ll be seeing it like ‘I’m doing the right thing for my family’. Players have a short shelf life and he could be injured tomorrow. He’ll be seeing it like that.

“He’s the man who does the hardest thing in football, gets them goals. He puts the ball away regularly, he’s a warrior and brings other people into play. He is the biggest loss Chelsea can have if they end up losing him - they cannot afford to lose him.”

“It’s the very last thing Chelsea need. He’s the leading scorer in the Premier League now - lose him and they aren’t going to win the Premier League. That’s how important he is.

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Graeme Souness believes Diego Costa's head has been turned

“You like to think sense will prevail and he’ll play until the end of the season and sign a pre-contract, if the Chinese are serious. There must be a way around this for both parties to be happy.

“Roman Abramovich is not skint and he won’t take kindly to someone coming in with that kind of money and trying to bully him. He’ll be greatly upset by the actions of Costa. I would imagine Roman would be up for a fight and would say ‘You’re staying here’.”

On the spending power of Chinese clubs, Souness, 63, added: “They’re blowing us out of the water. These are numbers that the riches of the Premier League cannot match.

“That’s where I think we’re going. Manchester United and Liverpool, as rich as they are, they’re vulnerable.

“Teams in China come knocking with those type of numbers... this may not be the last time we see this situation.”